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Human
Earth Animal Liberation (HEAL) 126 SW 148th St Ste C100-422 Seattle, WA 98166-1984 (206)244-1894
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HEAL
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| Prison Reform | Human Liberation | Earth Liberation | Animal Liberation | ||||||
FRAUDULENT AND ABUSIVE “TREATMENT” CENTERS
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS!
(Watch the Congressional Hearing)
***VISIT THE NEW SURVIVOR MESSAGE FORUM!***
The residential
treatment and wilderness "therapy" programs have been
denounced by the National Institute of Health as being harmful to
children and families as well as ineffective in dealing with teen
problems. There are multiple resources that expose the fraud and
abuse of this industry. Some authors to check out are Dr. Peter
Breggin, Alexia Parks, and Maia Szalavitz. Dr. Peter Breggin is
author of mutiple books regarding appropriate treatment for teens
(see Reclaiming Our Children by Dr. Peter Breggin). Alexia Parks
authored "An American Gulag" exposing the "teen
help" industry and Maia Szalavitz has written two great books
exposing the fraud and abuse inherent in this industry, "Tough
Love America" and "Help at Any Cost".
We suggest parents do
not remove their children from their home environment unless they
pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. Leading expert in
adolescent psychology and head of the Department of Psychology at
the University of California--Berkeley, Dr. Margaret Singer, has
spoken out against these programs in great detail saying that they
make a child's worst nightmare of abandonment come true and that the
people who run these programs are slick businessmen with no training
or expertise in helping teens appropriately. Maia Szalavitz, author
of "Tough Love America", cites the National Institute of
Health studies on these programs that have determined that they are
harmful and not helpful to teens or their families. Szalavitz also
stated on the Jan. 18th, 2005 episode of Montel Williams that even
when children/teens pose an immediate threat to themselves or others
that at most a short stay (1-4 weeks) in a local psychiatric
hospital to deescalate the situation is what is needed followed by
intensive out-patient family counseling.
The "schools"
listed on our site are either suspectedly or confirmedly abusive. We
recommend no one send children to a facility that matches any of the
criteria on our warning signs list at www.heal-online.org/warn.htm
(see also www.isaccorp.org
) . We have successfully exposed the abuses at Bethel Boys
Academy, Bethel Girls Academy (now closed), CEDU Family of Programs
(all programs now closed), Mountain Park Boarding Academy (now
closed), and many others. We had proof of abuse at CEDU programs up
over 6 years ago and they were just closed down on Friday, 3/25/05.
The system sometimes takes too long to catch up with justice and
truth. That's why we exist. We exist to warn and protect families
from abusive behavior modification programs.
If you are a survivor of one of these programs or otherwise
interested in exposing fraudulent and abusive “treatment” centers
or wilderness camps, please contact
us. For more information on this issue visit:
http://www.heal-online.org/teen.htm. On the
HEAL website you will find links to lawsuits, news articles, and
survivor websites detailing the abuses experienced at these
facilities. Also, please
take a moment to read the open letter quoting government and private
entities with their true intentions in these matters by visiting
www.beyondbusiness.net/openletter.htm.
It is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to an out of
state behavior modification program.
It is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to any program
that limits or denies contact between you and your child at any point in their stay at the facility. It
is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to a facility that you
yourself will not be monitoring on at least a weekly basis in person
to monitor the treatment and well being of your child.
Be responsible, for the sake of your children. If you or your family
were defrauded, abused, and/or subjected to human and civil rights
violations, please get legal assistance now.
The statute of limitations varies from state to state. You have a limited time to file a claim.
For a list of attorneys and attorney referral services that can
help you in your pursuit of justice, click
here. If you are a parent who was coerced into putting your child on psychotropic drugs by school professionals, please visit: http://www.ablechild.org/data/thelist.asp.
This is a growing list of parents bullied into putting their
children in harm’s way. To make a donation to
HEAL specifically for our Teen Liberty/Stop Child Abuse Campaign,
please click here. We need your full support to insure needed exposure for this
campaign! Get involved, donate
or volunteer
today! Also, we believe ALL programs outside of the US are suspect and ask that you read the U.S. State Department’s warning regarding international programs by clicking here. They have softened the warning from the original. We believe this is due to the corruption in the State Department, Justice Department, and the White House. Do not, under any circumstances, risk your child’s life in a program outside of the U.S.
HEAL is not a referral service. We do not advocate placement of children in unregulated, private, behavior modification programs or facilities. Please do not contact us for referrals or approval of your subjecting a child to this corrupt and destructive industry.
If
you are unable to find the answers you are looking for, please visit: www.heal-online.org/help.htm
Following
is a “work in progress” list of suspected and confirmed abusive
behavior modification programs in the
United States.
If you have survived an abusive behavior modification program,
please contact
us and tell us your
experience.
We will post your experience and details about the facility on
this website. We can
protect your identity
if you so desire. Understand that this is an incomplete list and that it is your
responsibility to look heavily into the
program(s) which you consider
placing your child into. Please
use the following drop down menu to select
programs by state or name
or simply scroll down the page:
ALABAMA
Alabama Teen Challenge in Oxford (& cities of Bay Minette, Warrior, ), AL is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility. Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for teens. Straight, Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. In George W. Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US ambassador to Italy. George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior modification. Please do not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please click here.
New Beginnings in AL is a Three Springs program. Based on multiple survivor accounts of other Three Springs programs and former employee (employed at Three Springs of Paint Rock Valley facility) allegations, we find Duck River Boys to be highly suspect. Due to possible litigation in this issue and in order to protect our sources, we are not divulging more information at this time. If you have more information on Three Springs programs and/or were abused while in their care, please contact us. If you were at their follow up transitional facility and experienced abuse or further violations of your rights, please contact us. To read survivor reports visit: www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm
New
Directions Boys in Huntsville, AL is a Three Springs program. Based on multiple survivor
accounts of other Three Springs programs and former employee (employed
at Three Springs of Paint Rock Valley facility) allegations, we find
Duck River Boys to be highly suspect.
Due to possible litigation in this issue and in order to
protect our sources, we are not divulging more information at this
time. If you have more
information on Three Springs programs and/or were abused while in
their care, please contact
us. If you
were at their follow up transitional facility and experienced abuse or
further violations of your rights, please contact us. To read
survivor reports visit: www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm
Reclamation Ranch in Empire, AL
is connected to Rachael Academy.
These programs are descendants of the
Roloff homes
and are confirmedly abusive. There is a photo on their website of
the Director proudly posing with the plane that Roloff died in. If
you were in Reclamation Ranch or would like to contact us please
click here.
Teen Challenge, Int’l
in Seale, AL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click
here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here.
Three Springs of
Courtland, Three Springs Turning Point, and Three Springs
of Paint Rock Valley are lock down facilities with around the clock
observation of children in their care.
Based on the description as of February 13, 2004 at the
teenprogram.info site, linked to the program title at the beginning of
this description and former employee (employed at Three Springs of
Paint Rock Valley facility) allegations, we believe that Three Springs
of Courtland and Three Springs of Paint Rock valley is confirmedly
abusive. Due to possible
litigation in this issue and in order to protect our sources, we are
not divulging more information at this time.
If you have more information on Three Springs programs and/or
were abused while in their care, please contact
us. If you
were at their follow up transitional facility at Three Springs Turning
Point and experienced abuse or further violations of your rights,
please contact us. To read survivor reports visit: www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm
Palmera
Teen Challenge in Double Springs, Alabama is highly suspected of being a teen
torture facility. Teen
Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free
America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF
was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of Straight,
Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for teens.
Straight, Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald
Reagan and George H.W. Bush. In
George W. Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as
US ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To
visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here. ALASKA
Teen
Challenge of Alaska
in Anchorage, AK is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here. ARIZONA
America’s
Buffalo Soldiers Boot Camp
located in White Mountain (area), AZ is confirmedly abusive.
The founder of the program, Charles Long was found guilty of
second-degree murder of Michael Villa, a child in this program.
And, in more recent news, four “counselors” involved with
the program have been found guilty in the death of another boy at this
camp, Anthony Haynes. For
more information visit: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0525long25.html,
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0621buffalo-ON.html
and http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/classics/chuck_long/.
If you were abused or had your rights violated at America’s
Buffalo Soldiers Boot Camp, please report the abuse to authorities and
contact
us
to have your online testimonial added here as a warning to others.
Blue
Hills Academy
located in Dewey, AZ uses the same language as Resource Realizations
and the TASKS model of behavior modification.
Their system is virtually identical to the confirmed abusive
programs such as WWASPS, Provo Canyon School, and Mountain Park
Boarding Academy. Use the
link to Blue Hills Academy (click on the opening title of this
paragraph) and you will be taken to their “what we do that works”
page. It details a
mandatory cut off of communication between parents and children during
the initial phases of “healing”.
They use language such as “what works, and what doesn’t
work” which is identical to the trauma-based mind control seminars
of Resource Realizations. It
is our belief that because of the numerous methods used having matched
the warning signs as can be found at http://www.heal-online.org/warn.htm
as taken from www.isaccorp.com
that Blue Hills Academy is an abusive behavior modification facility
and we advise you DO NOT send your child there and that you DO rescue
your child at once if they are there now!
If you were abused at Blue Hills Academy please report your
abuse to authorities and contact
us to have your online testimonial added here as a warning to
others.
Catherine
Freer Wilderness Program
located in Albany, OR is a confirmedly abusive behavior modification
program. A fifteen
year-old girl was killed in the program in May of 2002.
Do not send your child to a program known to be responsible for
the death of other children. If
you were abused in the Catherine Freer Wilderness Program, contact
us and we will post your online testimonial here as a
warning to others.
Copper Canyon Academy located in Lake Montezuma, AZ is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They use a level-based system similar to Provo Canyon School and the WWASPS programs. They limit contact between parent and child to censored/shared w/ staff written correspondence while on the initial orientation level. This contact is increased to one monthly phone call with staff supervision watching and monitoring all the child says while on the phone. These conditions make it virtually impossible for a child to report any abuse without suffering greater risk of unnecessary and cruel punishment. Please do not send your child to any program that limits your contact with them. If you were abused at Copper Canyon Academy or had your rights violated in anyway (it is against federal law for them to read your incoming or outgoing written correspondence and lawsuits have shown time and again that these institutions are guilty of breaking federal laws by doing this) please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others. To read an online testimonial regarding abuse and violations at this facility (under previous owners) as reported by a former employee of Copper Canyon, please click here.
Oak
Creek Ranch School located in Sedona, AZ is confirmedly
abusive. According to one mother, "My son went to Oak Creek
Ranch School in Sedona, Arizona. We were assured that it would be a
good place for a 12 year old and he would be among several others of
his age, supervised and extra help with some of his learning and
behavioral issues. The whole stay was a nightmare. There was only one
other 12 year old, all the other kids were high school students,
smoking, doing drugs and more. No supervision every night for 4 hours,
kids left to roam around. Whenever I called the only supervisor would
complain constantly that they were short staffed. My son was expelled
for taunting another kid with bruises on his body. California Child
Protective Services got involved, but nothing ever happened. I
contacted the Sherriff's Dept. in Sedona, and was told that "they
are good people at that school" and they weren't going to
investigate. Of course, I was not refunded any tuition and my son
learned everything he shouldn't have, cussing, smoking, drugs, sexual
encounters with older girls. To this day, 5 years later he still will
not tell us about some of the stuff that went on there, he is scarred,
our whole family has been traumatized by this experience. Schools like
Oak Creek Ranch School need to be put out of business!"
Please do not send your child to Oak Creek Ranch School. If you
were abused or had your rights violated by Oak Creek Ranch School,
please contact us so we can
post your experience here as a warning to others. Thank you!
Parc Place located in N. Chandler, AZ is confirmedly abusive. According to multiple former employees: "A lockdown rehabilitation facility for troubled teens in north Chandler is under fire from former employees who claim the place is plagued by violence, poor management and lax care." See the whole news report titled, "Ex-employees question safety for troubled teens at rehab facility" at http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6240832&nav=HMO6. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Parc Place, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others.
Spring Ridge Academy
located in Spring Valley, AZ uses virtually the same language and
systems of seminars as Resource Realizations and the TASKS model of
behavior modification. According
to their application form they require parents to turn over all
guardianship rights over to the school while the child is in the
school. They require a commitment of at least 15 months.
They ask parents to sign away the right to sue for any reason
other than gross negligence, which they cannot legally require parents
to do in the event they break the law, prove to be fraudulent and
abusive, as we believe they are.
They also block communication to the outside world allowing
only letters to and from parents all coming and going through staff so
that no child can report their abuse to their parents without being
punished. They block
phone privileges during the first month(s) of stay.
All of these are red flags according to the warning list at http://www.heal-online.org/warn.htm.
Please do not send your
child to this program. Rescue
them if they are there now! If
you were abused at Spring Ridge Academy please contact
us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to
others.
Teen
Challenge of Arizona
in Phoenix, (and
cities of Tucson, Yuma) AZ is highly suspected of being a teen torture
facility. Teen Challenge
is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free America
Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here. ARKANSAS
Teen
Challenge of Arkansas
in Hot Springs
Village, AR is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here.
Teen
Challenge Ranch in
Morrow, AR is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W.
Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George
W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists
and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused
or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact
us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click
here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please
click here. CALIFORNIA
Blue
Mountain Wilderness Program
located in Camp Connell, CA is suspect.
They try to allay fears of parents who are aware of abusive
programs by saying they are not abusive.
They say they don’t use the ineffective “level system”
that many abusive behavior modification programs use.
Then, they go on to say that they do use a “progressive
system” with different levels beginning with orientation.
There is to be no communication between child and the outside
world (including parents) for the first month or while at the
Orientation level. We
recommend for safety sake that you consider another option for your
child’s treatment. Children
are not monsters, they are human beings who need to be respected,
loved, and valued. Try it
at home, maybe that’s all the fixing your child needs!
If you were abused at Blue Mountain Wilderness Program please contact
us and will post your online testimonial here as a warning
to others.
CEDU Family of Services in California includes the following programs (ALL CEDU PROGRAMS NOW CLOSED AS OF 3/25/05): Rocky Mountain Academy | Boulder Creek Academy | NorthwestAcademy | CEDU High School | CEDU Middle School | King George School Programs: ASCENT Wilderness Intervention | Milestones Transitional Living | Phoenix Outdoor Education. We confirm that CEDU programs are abusive and provide you with the CEDU lawsuits and testimonials page as well as this quote from a survivor of ASCENT Wilderness Intervention as taken from http://www.teenprogram.info/schools/view/1175: “I attended Ascent and Cedu in CA. If you love your child STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL. I can tell you stories that will make you sick. I have also heard alot of horror stories from students who attended some of the other schools on this site. Ple | |||||||||
